Being the last New Year message to the people of the State of Osun, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said that he would handover the mantle of leadership of the state to a worthy successor from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aregbesola, in his new year message to the people of the state, maintained that Osun must never be ruled by people or political party that would return the state to the inglorious state.

The governor, therefore, charged the people of the state to continue making a right choice of supporting the APC government and refused to be compromised, manipulated and intimidated by the opposition parties.

He said: “This is an election year in which our tenure will end and a successor must emerge. It is my solemn promise that we will not leave in a vacuum.

“In consultation with our leaders and the member of our great party, we will careful select and present to you a successor that belongs to our political tradition of progressive people oriented leadership, a person of integrity, who shares our aspirations and will take governance to the next level from where we stopped.

“ I want you therefore to conduct yourselves with the same dignity and courage of Omoluabi – a people whose conscience and soul cannot be bought, that cannot be intimidated with guns and dogs and who stand firm behind the progressive rock of political leadership.”

Aregbesola warned politicians from disturbing the peace of the state with any move capable of undermining the security and peaceful atmosphere of the state.

The governor said: “In the New Year, political desperado hell bent on precipitating crisis and mayhem will want to egg some misguided individuals into conducting themselves unseemly and disturb the peace and serenity of the state.

“We support the democratic expression of grievances through peaceful protests and other legitimate means. Nevertheless, all form of social agitation, be it economic, political or social, must not be done to the detriment of others.

“We have the mandate and strong intention to protect the right of others to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness and go about their lawful duties without molestation, let or hindrance.”

He commended the workers of the state for their sacrifice, understanding and the willingness to do and support what is right, and not what is convenient, in the past seven years.

“I must in particular thank all the workers in the state who have laboured with us for the successful implementation of our programmes and are therefore part and parcel of our success story, especially those who have had to endure 75 per cent and 50 per cent salary regime since July 2015”, he said.

Making his stewardship, Aregbesola said: “For the past seven years, we have laboured to bring people centred progressive governance to Osun.